Mexico's safety situation requires nuanced assessment. Many tourist zones are safe and well-traveled: Mexico City's tourist neighborhoods, the Yucatan Peninsula, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende, and the main beach resorts see millions of visitors without incident. Stick to tourist circuits and follow locals' advice.
Certain states have serious organized crime-related violence and should be avoided or approached with extreme caution: Guerrero (except tourist Zihuatanejo and a few spots), Michoacan, Tamaulipas, and parts of Sinaloa and Colima. Use official airport-dispatched taxis or Uber (available in major cities), travel by day on major toll highways, and avoid driving at night in rural areas.